Braun tests positive for PED | Presser update pg. 42

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

I think the only remaining question is how the synthetic testosterone got into his sample. That's not something he could necessarily be able to answer.

What report said it was synthetic?

Does it matter? A report is what one person heard from a "top-source." We have reports that say one thing and reports that say the other. It all depends on whether or not you personally think he is guilty to say which "report" is BS.

[crkone]

ESPN is running an article by Howard Bryant in which they state that it wasn't the failed test that never made it to Fed Ex, it was the retake. These **** are criminal.

edit: english is hard.

ESPN is the only place I heard this from so far.

[ReasonablySober]

Yea. It's factually wrong. And they're running it. WTF.

[crkone]

Yea. It's factually wrong. And they're running it. WTF.

Bryant is the author of "Juicing the Game: Drugs, Power and the Fight for the Soul of Major League Baseball." So he may be a bit biased.

[DigitalFool]

I think the only remaining question is how the synthetic testosterone got into his sample. That's not something he could necessarily be able to answer.

What report said it was synthetic?

Does it matter? A report is what one person heard from a "top-source." We have reports that say one thing and reports that say the other. It all depends on whether or not you personally think he is guilty to say which "report" is BS.

You've proven my point.

[crkone]

If I had done this intentionally or unintentionally, I would be the first to step up and say, “I did it.” I truly believe with my life and my heart that this substance never entered my body at any point in my life.

[Turk Nowitzki]

Just watched the full clip, that was pretty damn impressive.

[emunney]

I think the only remaining question is how the synthetic testosterone got into his sample. That's not something he could necessarily be able to answer.

What report said it was synthetic?

Have you not read that from 1,000 different news sources? They could be getting it all from the same incorrect place, but have you really not read it anywhere?

[emunney]

http://www.jsonline.com/sports/brewers/138857174.html

The test result showed an unusually high level of synthetic testosterone, though the substance that triggered it has not been revealed.

http://healthland.time.com/2012/02/24/r ... gonewsedit

Notably, however, Braun’s lawyers apparently did not dispute the fact that the drug test found synthetic testosterone in the Brewers outfielder’s urine.

etc.

[DigitalFool]

In all this, wasn't there a mention of multiple Brewers having the same positive samples? What's the word on that situation? Where they all botched the same way by the same guy?

[WEFFPIM]

In all this, wasn't there a mention of multiple Brewers having the same positive samples? What's the word on that situation? Where they all botched the say way by the same guy?

Braun mentioned that he took the test with two of his teammates. It was Dan Patrick a month ago that said those samples were elevated, too, perhaps moreso than Braun's. I would imagine all of their process, if they went through one, was confidential.

[trwi7]

http://www.amazon.com/Braun-Wins-Appeal ... 884&sr=8-1

Will Carroll article if you want to pay 99 cents.

[WEFFPIM]

Here's my issue with what Will Carroll is saying. Much like what ESPN is saying about the second test being delayed, Carroll's the only one reporting that Braun proved the sample was bad in the appeal process. Braun also didn't mention any of that in the press conference today, and while maybe he can't due to litigation, at the very least he could have said that the sample proved to be a false positive due to the flaw in the system.

So while I want to believe Carroll, I'm a bit skeptical at the moment.

[Ryan5UW]

Costas loved the response and spoke well of Braun, sold.

Means a lot more to me than anyone from ESPN's opinion.

[trwi7]

I'll take the side of Carroll who writes about this stuff for a living over what ESPN has to say who have shown a clear bias from the start which continues even after the suspension was lifted.

[Siefer]

Just watched the presser, and Braun was very impressive. He got into more detail than I was expecting, but primarily about the chain of custody issue. Both the MLB and ESPN are being ridiculous about this - chain of custody is not a technicality, it's an incredibly serious systemic failure. His sample should never have been tested to begin with.

The big question for me, is "what the hell happened with his test?" This is probably where any potential future litigation will focus, however, which will necessarily keep those involved officially quiet on the subject. PP, you're right that being legally innocent doesn't mean he did not take PED's, but in light of the answer to the above question, Braun's done and said just about everything that he possibly could.

[Ayt]

I think the only remaining question is how the synthetic testosterone got into his sample. That's not something he could necessarily be able to answer.

Who is the original source for this claim and why should we believe them?

Besides, beyond that, do we know that the sample indeed was not tampered with? People in the media have reported that it wasn't, but who are their sources and what are their agendas? It seems clear that the MLB is id doing everything in their power to make their drug testing system look legit. At this point, I don't believe any of the leaked garbage. The entire situation has been a farce. It never should have been public in the first place.

It is all a bunch of bull chit. Guilty until proven innocent repulses me.

[WEFFPIM]

I'll take the side of Carroll who writes about this stuff for a living over what ESPN has to say who have shown a clear bias from the start which continues even after the suspension was lifted.

I lean that way, too. But one of the problems that has existed throughout this ordeal is taking one source's words and running with them as fact. Whether it's in the arbiter's written statement next week or Braun's camp mentions what Carroll believes happened, I need another confirmation.

There is a reason why other news outlets aren't running with Carroll's process right now, probably because they can't confirm it themselves yet. ESPN may be doing it on ignorance. I'm not saying Carroll's words are false, I hope they're true. I just need it to be backed up.

[jimmybones]

Why is everyone ignoring the fact that there was no change in strength, speed, size that would be common with an athlete with testosterone levels THAT high? That's such a key factor. If he's intentionally raising testosterone to cheat then why isn't there any obvjective data to back that? Must be on that new test that only elevates bat speed.

[emunney]

I think the only remaining question is how the synthetic testosterone got into his sample. That's not something he could necessarily be able to answer.

Who is the original source for this claim and why should we believe them?

I don't know, but I almost never know the sources for news I read, and I trust journalistic vetting procedures. If you don't, I would question whether you ever do or if it's just in this case.

Besides, beyond that, do we know that the sample indeed was not tampered with?

We don't. That's one scenario in which Braun wouldn't be able to answer how it got in there. We only know that the testing lab reported no evidence of tampering on the package. I don't think that means there was no opportunity to **** with the sample itself.

People in the media have reported that it wasn't, but who are their sources and what are their agendas?

Again, part of this comes back to journalistic vetting. The other part is whether the people saying these things are actually representing journalism or if they're the kind of misleading opinion-cloaked-in-the-trappings-of-legit-journalism that's so... fashionable these days.

It seems clear that the MLB is id doing everything in their power to make their drug testing system look legit.

I certainly don't care about anything MLB disciplinarians or Victor Conte or anti-doping guys say. This federal lawsuit thing is really a desperate idea, and can't possibly fly. They have the arbitration process to keep the courts out of it, and courts respect that. They'd have to prove that the arbitrators were guilty of corruption to get this flipped.